In 2021, Take These 12 Incredible Ohio Hikes, One For Each Month Of The Year
There’s no better way to embrace a new year than by getting outside and spending some time in nature. Fortunately, Ohio has a wide variety of hiking trails to explore. From trekking through ghost town remains to chasing waterfalls, the following are 12 of our favorite hikes to take in Ohio. Dedicate each trail to one month out of the year and you’ll find that it’s more than doable to tackle this outdoor bucket list.
During these uncertain times, please keep safety in mind and consider adding destinations to your bucket list to visit at a later date.
Tucked away in northeast Ohio, these unusual ledges are hiding in Cleveland Metroparks in Hinckley Reservation. The ledges themselves are captivating to walk through, but the faces carved into them make you feel as if you’ve temporarily entered another world.
This hiking trail is stunning no matter what season, but during the colder months it transforms into a real life winter wonderland you have to see to believe. As an added bonus, you'll still get to see some greenery, as many of the trees along the trail are evergreen.
Stretching across Vinton County and ending in Athens County is a historic rail trail that's still in its developing stages. Along the Moonville Rail Trail, you'll find the infamous Moonville Tunnel and what's left of its surrounding ghost town. Today, little remains of Moonville and its abandoned surroundings. Trains passed through the area until the mid-1980s, even though the last family left the town in the mid-1940s.
The Jane Coates Wildflower Trail on South Bass Island in Put-In-Bay, Ohio is a hidden gem most people don’t know about. This half-mile loop trail features a gorgeous variety of wildflowers and even some migratory songbirds.
The Stanford Trail will lead you to the boardwalks at the base of Brandywine Falls. It's a moderate 1.75-mile hike that takes a little more than an hour to complete. It’s best to visit the falls after a heavy rainfall, but all throughout the year this waterfall flows pretty powerfully.
Along the 1.3-mile Orange Trail, you'll see the Osage Orange Tunnel. It's a breathtaking natural wonder you'll absolutely love. There's nothing like a walk In the shade of an enchanting tree tunnel.
The 0.15-mile boardwalk trail along this waterfront park is short, sweet and stunning. Here, you can observe a variety of vegetation that's typically only found on the Atlantic Coast, which makes this trail extra special. (Of course, you'll probably want to go for a swim while you're here too.)
The Clifton Gorge loop trail, also known as the Pittsburgh-Cincinnati Stagecoach Trail, cuts through limestone gorge and follows interesting pieces of Ohio's past, which you can read about along the way. (Note: Some spots can be slippery to cross in the gorge, so please proceed with caution.)
Although it's privately owned and operated, Rock Stalls Natural Sanctuary is open to the public daily until 5 p.m., unless otherwise indicted. The 1.1- mile loop trail is lightly trafficked and rated as easy, according to AllTrails. Most visitors can spot a total of 7 waterfalls within this nature persevere, depending on the amount of rainfall the area has recently received.
The Beech Ridge Loop Trail and Wildcat Trail connect to make a 1.8-mile trail in the Hell Hollow Wilderness Area. In the fall time, the deep green ravine glows gold. The views from the 360-million-year-old Chagrin Shale cliff are simply magical.
Coming in at around 5 and a half miles within Shawnee State Park, the Knighton Nature Trail features stunning lake views, a good climb and breathtaking fall foliage in the autumn months. Just follow the red triangle blazes and enjoy the journey.
Aside from the preserve's festive name, the 4.5-mile Jacobs Ladder and Christmas Rocks Trail is a looped hike that leads to a stunning overlook. Along the way, you'll encounter some unique rock formations, plants and wildlife.
What do you think? Are you up for tackling this bucket list of trails this year? Share your thoughts with us!
Address: 432 Bellus Rd, Hinckley, OH 44233, USA
Address: Hocking Hills State Park, 19852 OH-664, Logan, OH 43138, USA
Address: Moonville Tunnel, Hope-Moonville Rd, McArthur, OH 45651, USA
Address: 1962 Put-In-Bay Rd, Put-In-Bay, OH 43456, USA
Address: 8176 Brandywine Rd, Northfield, OH 44067, USA
Address: Sugarcreek MetroPark, 4178 Conference Rd, Bellbrook, OH 45305, USA
Address: 9601 Headlands Rd, Mentor, OH 44060, USA
Address: 2381 OH-343, Yellow Springs, OH 45387, USA
Address: 29886 Rock Stull Rd, Logan, OH 43138, USA
Address: 14437 Leroy Center Rd, Thompson, OH 44086, USA
Address: Shawnee State Park, 4404 OH-125, West Portsmouth, OH 45663, USA
Address: 2340 Meister Rd SW, Lancaster, OH 43130, USA
